Cold reading of Ted Bundy photograph.

[rudeboy]

Looking at that picture, he sure looks like a nice, well mannered fellow.

Thats why when a serial killer is caught the neighbours say: «He looked such a quiet,normal fellow,a real gentleman».

me im just a rude boy1!

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

That must have led to some fascinating conversations between cagey testers when the test was being planned:

Test coordinator #1: Okay, so what we'll do is give them a picture of a serial killer that almost anyone would recognize.

Test coordinator #2: But if they recognize him won't they get a lot of hits?

Test coordinator #1: Exactly. And when they get a lot of hits that will prove they had prior knowledge.

Test coordinator #2: But how can we prove they had prior knowledge.

Test coordinator #1: Easy- we just assume that they recognized the picture because he's so well known.

Test coordinator #2: Okay, but what if they out think us and don't get any hits.

Test coordinator #1: That will prove they are not psychic.

Test coordinator #2: Right. So what are we testing exactly?

Test coordinator #1: We're testing to see if they're psychic.

Test coordinator #2: And if they get a lot of hits it's proves they had prior knowledge and are not psychic, but if they don't get any hits that also proves they're not psychic.

Test coordinator #1: Exactly.

Test coordinator #2: Okay. Good plan, I guess. What would be a positive result.

Test coordinator #1: That's the best part- they can't get a positive result.

10 Year Old Child listening to conversation: Uh, why not show them a picture they're not likely to recognize?

Test coordinator #1: No- that's just what they'll be expecting.

I remember something very similar. Randi was doing a documentary on beliefs in the paranormal in Russia (I think--my memory is hazy). There were a couple of women who claimed to do readings on just a photo. Randi presented a photo of an American serial killer, but then gave them absolutely no help in their attempts at cold reading. They even said things like, "You have to give us SOMETHING to go on!"

They said he was a nice guy, maybe well-educated, etc. (probably stuff based on the evidence of his clothing and such in the photo)--totally missed the bit about him being a psychopathic murderer.

Is that what this photo is from? If so, wasn't it Russia (or someplace where the people weren't likely to recognize the American murderer)?

 

[Father Dagon]

I remember something very similar. Randi was doing a documentary on beliefs in the paranormal in Russia (I think--my memory is hazy). There were a couple of women who claimed to do readings on just a photo. Randi presented a photo of an American serial killer, but then gave them absolutely no help in their attempts at cold reading. They even said things like, "You have to give us SOMETHING to go on!"

They said he was a nice guy, maybe well-educated, etc. (probably stuff based on the evidence of his clothing and such in the photo)--totally missed the bit about him being a psychopathic murderer.

Is that what this photo is from? If so, wasn't it Russia (or someplace where the people weren't likely to recognize the American murderer)?

Yup! I got the picture from here.

And Bundy was a really handsome man. If they've showed a picture of Richard Trenton Chase the psychics would've probably say something unflattering, even though Bundy clearly was the worst. (Btw, Chase is one of my "favourite" serial killers for being so totally disorganized and delusional.)